Return to the M.B. Herald Vol. 35, No. 21 Home Page
John Hiebert has resigned as senior pastor of Grantham MB Church in St. Catharines, Ont., effective Jan. 31, after seven years of service. He is a graduate of MB Bible College and has studied at MB Biblical Seminary. He previously served as pastor of Nechako Community Church in Vanderhoof, B.C. and associate pastor at Kennedy Heights MB Church in Delta, B.C. Prior to entering pastoral ministry, he was involved in various para-church ministries including the Department of Broadcasting of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He and his wife Elaine are praying for guidance as to a future ministry.
Jeremy Konrad began a part-time pastoral internship Sept. 1 at Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. He will be focussing on Christian education at the church. He has studied at Briercrest Bible College and at Alberta Bible College. He is now studying at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, majoring in Christian education.
Gordon Matties, associate professor of biblical studies at Concord College in Winnipeg, will begin a four-month research project in India in January, 1997. He has been awarded a Faculty Research Fellowship by the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute to study how Indian interpretation of the Bible is informed by traditional worldviews in India.
Ian Ritchie is the recently appointed assistant professor of religion and culture at Concord College in Winnipeg. He spent the summer of 1996 in Kenya doing fieldwork to discover how African traditional religion influences understanding of the Bible. Ritchie served for five years in Nigeria with Mennonite Central Committee before continuing his graduate studies at McGill University, where his dissertation was on African Theology and Social Change.
Karl Wiens of Arnold (B.C.) travelled to Siauliai, Lithuania in September to work on renovations of a castle, which will be used for offices, a church and a Bible school. He then moved to Panevezys, Lithuania, where he is helping to renovate a three-storey house into a church.
Woodrow (Sask.) Gospel Chapel held its annual Thanksgiving Mission Celebration service Oct. 6 with Ralph and Grace Gliege. Frieda Rempel, missionary to Taiwan, also spoke. An afternoon service followed a dinner at the church.
Fifty-seven workers participated in orientation at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. Sept. 10-20. Twenty-two are beginning overseas assignments, 30 North American assignments, two service internships and nine short-term assignments with Ten Thousand Villages (formerly SELFHELP Crafts of the World). Among those participating were Dave S. Pankratz and Janet P. Schmidt of Winnipeg. They are beginning a three-year assignment in Kitwe, Zambia. Dave will be working in economic development and Janet as a conflict resolution trainer. Dave has a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg. Janet has a B.Ed. from the University of Manitoba. Dave last worked as an accountant at MCC Canada in Winnipeg. Janet last worked as a program and training coordinator at Mediation Services in Winnipeg. They are members of River East MB Church.
Arthur Janzen of Abbotsford, B.C. is beginning a two-year assignment in Abbotsford, where he will work as a manager at a furniture and appliance store. Janzen has a B.Ed. from the University of British Columbia, was last employed as a school principal in Abbotsford and is a member of Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford.
Julie and Scott Siemens of Regina, Sask. are beginning two-year MCC assignments in Harlan, Ky. They will both be working as the directors of MCC's Serving With Appalachian People. Julie was last employed at the Bank of Nova Scotia; Scott last worked at Revenue Canada. The are members of Parliament Community Church.
Jake and Phyllis Epp of Abbotsford, B.C. are beginning four-month MCC assignments in Akron, Pa. Jake will be working as a restocking clerk and Phyllis as a returns clerk at Ten Thousand Villages. Jake last worked as a supervisor at B.C. Telephone Co. in Abbotsford. Phyllis last worked as an activities assistant at Tabor Home in Abbotsford. They are members of East Aldergrove MB Church in Abbotsford.
Alyce and Vic Hiebert of Waterloo, Ont. are beginning four-month MCC assignments in Akron, Pa. at Ten Thousand Villages. Alyce will work as a returns clerk and Vic as receiver/restocker/packer. They are members of Waterloo MB Church.
Ernest and Frieda Pauls of Winnipeg are beginning four-month assignments as clerks in the Ten Thousand Villages store in Akron, Pa. Ernest has a degree in business administration from Red River Community College in Winnipeg. He was last employed as a manager of purchasing at Pioneer Grain Co. Frieda last worked at Sears in Winnipeg. They are members of Portage Ave. MB Church.
Return to the M.B. Herald Vol. 35, No. 21 Home Page